Dairy and Food Processing

Letter from Canada to Australia

4 February 2016

The Honourable Andrew Robb
Minister for Trade and Investment
Australia

Dear Minister,

In connection with the signing on this date of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (the Agreement), I have the honour to confirm the following understandings reached between the Government of Canada and the Government of Australia during the course of negotiation of the Agreement:

• Canada confirms that Australian dairy products, including those imported under HS Chapter 3504 such as milk protein concentrates, can be utilised in dairy processing in Canada to the fullest extent possible, including in cheesemaking.
• Nothing in this understanding is intended to derogate from any rights or obligations under the WTO SPS Agreement and the WTO TBT Agreement.

I have the further honour of proposing that this letter, equally valid in English and French, and your letter in reply confirming that your Government shares this understanding, will constitute an understanding between our Governments which will come into effect on the first date on which the Agreement is in force for both Canada and Australia.

Sincerely,

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland
Minister of International Trade
Canada